Mechanical stoker.



No. 7||,6s8. Patented oct. 2|, |902.

E. McCUNNELL. MECHANICAL STOKER.

(Application med denso, 1901.1 (No M odel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I.

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No. 7ll,668.

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MECHANICAL S'I'KEI.l

(Application leq Oct. 30, 1901J (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELLICOTT MQCONNELL, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

MECHANICAL STOKER.

SPECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 711,668, dated October21, 1902.

Application filed October 30, 1901 panying drawings, which form a partof this specification.

The invention relates to mechanical stokers.

The main object of the invention is to so construct a mechanical Stokeras yto adapt it to a locomotive.

The invention also has for its object to automatically shake the grateof the lire-box; to construct the hopper from which the coal is fed insuch a way asto permit ready access to the iire-box; to break up anylarge pieces of coal that may be fed to the hopper before they aredeliveredv to the stoker; to equally distribute throughout the length ofthe grate the coal forced from the stoker,`and to provide certain noveland advantageous details of construction.

Mechanical stokers as applied to stationthe economy which they e'ect inthe consumption of coal, as Well as the manual labor which they save,are now well recognized. Hithertohowever, they have not Vbeensuccessfully applied to locomotives, because of the lack of room in therear of the locomotive for the Stoker-actuating mechanism, because ofthe diflicnlty of arranging the hopper and the actuating mechanism forthe stoker in such a way as to get ready access to the lire-box for thepurpose of cleaning the fire, removing clinkers, or temporary hand-ring,and because of other difficulties of adaptation. In my invention Iovercome these difficulties by an entirely new arrangement, wherein theStoker-actuating mechanism is. located in front of the Stoker and inproximity to the front driving-wheels of al locomotive and wherein thehopper is made foldable in such a way that access may be readily had tothe fire-box. l

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a locomotive Awith myinvention applied. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section showing in detailthe bottom of the fire-box, Stoker,

. Serial No. 80,484. (No model.)

grate-shakingdevices, and hopper. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on theline 3 3 of Fig. 2'. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4 4 ofFig. 2.

the line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. Gis a plan show- Fig. 5 is a sectional planview on ing a modified form of hoe, and Fig. 7 is a the two setsbeingseparated by an open space l extending longitudinally and centrallyofthe fire-box. Beneath this open space and extending longitudinally ofthe lire-box is a trough C, of steel, cast-iron, or other suitablematerial, equal in length approximately to the length of the fire-box orthe longitudinal dimension of the grate-surface. This trough is boltedto the mud-ring of the fire-box or may be otherwise suitably attachedbeneath the grate-surface. The forward end of the trough is inclined toprevent packing 'of the coal.` 4

D is ahopper secured to the foot-plate of the locomotive above the rearend of the trough. EE are two channel-irons extending longitudinally ofthe trough. Extending between the two channel-irons are cross-bars oraxles f, from which are hung hoes F.

G represents stops to limit the backward trough to force the hoes Fdownwardly and backwardly against the stops G at the beginning ofA eachfeeding stroke, while during the remainder of the feeding stroke thehoes F force theV coal forwardly and upwardly through the open centralspace-between the two sets of grate-bars and transversely over thegrate-bars. On the return stroke the coal remaining inthe trough causesthe hoes tol swing forwardly and upwardly, so that they will slide overthe coal remaining in the trough. The lower end of each Ahoe ispreferably tapered and inclined toward the rear, thereby imparting adownward and backward y direction to the hoe at the start of eachfeeding stroke. The tendency to an uneven distribu tion of the coal maybe avoided by varying the length and the normal working inclination ofthe hoes. As shown, one of said hoes is of about half the depth of thetrough and is suspended from a cross-bar hung about half-way between thetop and bottom of the trough, while another of said hoes has its stoplocated in front of a vertical plane dropped from its axis. The locationand number of these small and inclined hoes will depend upon theparticular construction of firebox to which the stoker is applied, ashort or narrow hoe being used at points where there is atendency tofeed a disproportionately large amount of coal and the inclined hoesbeing used at points Where the opposite tendency exists. Thus the coalmay be distributed evenly throughout the length of the firebox. Tofurther insure the even distribution of coal, I secure to the trough aseries of deliecting-plates R, extending` upwardly and forwardly andhaving any desired inclination. The function of these delecting-platesis to insure the coal being deposited on the grate at a point in advanceof where it leaves the trough, thus obviating the tendency to feed anundue proportion of coal into the front of the fire-box. v

To impart a reciprocating movement to the stoker, l secure to theframing of the locomotive beneath the boiler and in proximity to thefront driving-wheels a motor H. This motor consists of a cylinder andpiston and valve-gear by any ordinary construction, the same beingdriven by steam from the boiler or by compressed air from the air-brakesystem. This piston -rod 7L is secured to the channel-irons E E by meansof a knucklejoint I. By this arrangement the stoker and the coal arepulled forwardly, not pushed, at each feeding stroke.

Secured to the top of the channel-irons at the hopper end of the troughis a fiat plate K, toothed at its front end. l (See Figs. 3 and 5.) Theplate is so located that it moves forwardly under the mouth of thehopper at each feeding stroke, crushing and breaking any large masses ofcoal that may lodge there. This insures at all times the free passage ofcoal from the hopper and prevents large masses or lumps from enteringthe trough and obstructing the normal operation of the hoes. At thebeginning of' the feeding operation the teeth are below the rear edge ofthe hopper-aperture. The plate is longer than the length of the Stokerand thus before Athe stoker has completed its feeding stroke the plateentirely covers the mouth of the hopper, thus preventing coal fromdropping in behind and blocking the reciprocating mechanism.

l have provided the following mechanism for shaking the gratecontinuously during the stoking operation. Secured to or cast integralwith cach grate-bar B is a lug S, and

secured to or integral with each grate-bar B is a lug S. The lugs S Sare secured, respectively, to rods T T. A reciprocatingmotion impartedto these rods causes the gratebars to oscillate through a very smallare, breaking up the lire and cleaning out the ashes. The followingmeans are provided for reciprocating the rods T T and for connecting anddisconnecting said rods and their actuating mechanism.

U is a rocking lever pivoted to the boiler.

V is a link pivoted at one end to the rods T T and at the other endhaving a recess fu, engaging a pin u on the lever U.

71, h2 are tappets on the piston-rod h.

W is a bell-crank lever pivoted to the framing, one end of which engagesthe link V, while the other end is operated from the cab by means of arod w.

With the parts in the position shown the tappets will strike and rockthe lever U back and forth during the stoking operation, the lever Uimparting through link V a reciproeating movement to the rods T T',thereby oscillating the grate-bars, as above described.

It may be advisable to shake the gratebars continuously during thestoking operation. If it is desired to suspend the grateshaking for alimited time while continuing to stoke, the bell-crank lever W by meansof the rod Iu] is lifted, thus disengaging the link V from the rockinglever U.

Of course it is necessary occasionally for the Iireman to have access tothe lire-box for the purpose of cleaning the fire or removing clinkersthat may accumulate. Further, in case of anyderangernent of thestokingmechanism hand-firing would be necessary. The iopper, beinglocated under the lire-door, would, if of the ordinary construction, beseriously in the way, particularly during handfiring. I construct thehopper in a novel manner, so that it can readily be gotten out of theWay in any of the above contingencies. The front wall CZ of the hopper,next to the back of the boiler, is rigidly secured to the foot-plate Yof the locomotive. The rear Wall d' is hinged at its base to thefootboard, so as to be capable of folding backwardly and downwardly.Each of the side walls d2 (Z2 is similarly hinged at its base to thefoot-plates, so as to be capable of folding outwardly and downwardly.Thus the rear and two side walls of the hopper are capable of beingfolded down flat on the foot-plate. The rear wall d has spring-catchesd20 d20, which engage side walls cl2 d2 and hold them in their normalpositions. The side walls d2 cl2 have springcatches d10 d10, whichengage the rear wall Cl' and hold it in its normal position.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a modified form of stoker in which for thechannel-irons E E is substituted a rod L, on each side of which arehinged on vertical axes hoes M, which are adapted to fold outwardly andbackwardly on the feeding stroke until they contact with the stops N andwhich are swung forwardly and IOO IIC

In Fig. 7 I have shown the Stoker constructed as follows; Sliding withinthe exterior trough O is an interior trough O. Secured.

between the walls of the exteriortrough are cross-bars or axles p, andpivoted thereon are hoes P.. In this modification the interior trough isconnected to the piston, and thereby reciprocated. On the feeding Strokethe coal pushes the hoes upwardly and forwardly away from the stops Q,and the coal in front of the hoes will be forced upwardly into thefire-box, as in the operation of the Stokers hereinbefore described.

In Speaking of the front or forward end of the Stoker I refer to the endtoward which the coal is fed.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire toprotect by-Letters Patent, is v .1. The combination, with a locomotiveand the boiler and fire-box thereof, of a Stoker underneath thefire-box, means for imparting motion to the movable part of the Stoker,and a hopper at the rear of the fire-box and above the Stoker, saidhopper having side and rear walls hinged at their bases so as to befoldable downwardly fiat on the foot-plate.

2. The combination, with a locomotive and the boiler and fire-boxthereof, of a Stoker underneath the fire-box, motive power carriedby'the locomotive located` in front of the Stoker and connected with andimparting motion to the movable part of the Stoker, and a hopper at therear of the fire-box and above.

the Stoker', the front wall of said hopper being fixed and the sidewalls and rear wall being hinged at their bases So as to be foldabledownwardly flat on the foot-plate.

3. The combination, with the fire-box, of a Stoker, having reciprocatingparts, underneath the fire-box, a hopper adapted to feed coal to theStoker, means for actuating the reciprocating parts of the Stoker, atoothed plate connected to and moving with the reciprocating parts ofthe Stoker, said plate being adapted to Slide underneath the mouth ofthe hopper and break the large lumps of coal fed therefrom.

4. The combination, with the fire-box, of a Stoker, having reciprocatingparts, underneath the fire-box, a hopper adapted to feed greater thanthe length of the Stroke of the reciprocating parts of the Stoker,whereby the coal is broken as it is fed from the hopper and whereby themonth of the hopper is closed before the forward stroke of thereciprocating parts of the Stoker is completed.

5. The combination, with the fire-box and its grate, of a Stoker, havingreciprocating parts, underneath the fire-box, a hopper adapted to feedcoal to the Stoker, means for actuating the reciprocating parts ofthestoker, grate-Shaking devices 'connected to the gratebars,reciprocating devices moving with the reciprocating parts of the Stokerand adapted to engage and actuate the grate-shaking devices, and atoothed plate connected with and moving with the reciprocating parts ofthe Stoker, said plate being adapted to Slide underneath the mouth ofthe hopper.

6. D e combination, with a locomotive and the boi `e`r andire-boxthereof, of a Stoker underneath the fire-box, motive power carried bythe locomotive located in front of the Stoker and connected with andimparting motion to the movable part of the Stoker, and a hopper at therear of the fire-box and above the' Stoker, the front wall of Saidhopper being fixed and the side walls and rear wall being hinged attheir bases So as to be foldable downwardly flat on the -footplate,springcatches on the front wall engaging and holding the Side walls intheir normal position, and Spring-catches on the Side walls engaging andholding the rear wall in its normal position.

'7. The combination, with a locomotive and the boiler and fire-boxthereof, of a Stoker underneath the fire-box, means for imparting motionto the movable part of the Stoker, and a hopper at the rear of thefire-box and above IOO the Stoker, Said hopper having side and rearwalls hinged at their bases So as to be foldable downwardly flat on thefoot-plate, Springcatches on the front wall engaging and holding theside walls in their normal position, and Spring-catches on the sidewalls engaging and holding the rear wall in its normal position.

8. The combination, with a locomotive and the boiler and fire-boxthereof, ofa trough underneath and extending longitudinally of IIO thefire-box and open at its top, motive power located in front of thetrough, channel-irons extending longitudinally of the trough along thesides thereof, the 'channel-irons being connected to and adapted to bereciprocated by Said motor, a hopper at the rearof the fire-box overandcommunicating with the riers extending longitudinally ofthe trough, I

means for reciprocating Said hoe-carriers lon.- gitudinally, a pluralityof hoes hung from said hoe-carriers, Said hoes varying in Size to effecta more nearly uniform distribution of coal, and stops for limiting thebackward Swing of the hoes.

10. The combination with the fire-box, of a trough underneath andextending longitudinally of the fire-box and open at its top, means forintroducing fuel to the trough, hoe-carriers extending longitudinally ofthe trough, means for reciprocating said hoe-carriers longitudinally, aplurality of hoes hung from said hoe-carrier, and stops for limiting thebackward swing of the hoes, one or more of said stops being located inadvance of the axis of its corresponding hoe.

11. The combination,with the fire-box, of a trough underneath andextending longitudinally of the fire-box and open at its top, means forintroducing fuel to the trough, ipe-carriers extending longitudinally ofthe trough, means for reciprocating said hoe-carriers longitudinally, aplurality of hoes hung Vfrom said hoe-carrier, said hoes varyin g insize, and stops for limiting the backward swing of Jthe hoes, one ormore ofV said stops being located in advance of the axis of itscorresponding hoe, whereby a more nearly uniform distribution of thecoal is effected.

12. The combination, with the fire-box, of a trough underneath andextending longitudinally of the fire-box and open at its top, means forintroducing fuel to the trough, hoe-carrmuses riers extendinglongitudinally of the trough, means for reciprocating said hoe-carrierslongitudinally, and one or more hoes hung from said hoe-carriers, saidhoe having a tapered and inclined end, thereby imparting a downwarddirection to the hoe at the start of the feeding stroke of thehoe-carrier.

13. The combination, with the fire-box, of a trough underneath andextending longitudinally of the {ire-box and open at its iop, means forintroducing fuel to the trough, hoe-car riers extending longitudinallyof the trough, means for reciprocating said hoe-carriers 1ongitudinally,and one or more hoes hung from said hoe-carriers, said 110e having aninclined end, therebyimparting a downward direction to the hoe at thestart of the feeding stroke of the hoe-carrier.

In testimony of which invention I have hereunto set my hand atPhiladelphia on this 26th day of October, 1901.

ELLICOTT MCCONNELL.

Witnesses:

GUTHRIE MCCONNELL, W. E. M. CALL, Jr.

